Overberg Activities

Elgin

Elgin is abuzz with activity in October for the Apple Blossom Festival. Located just over an hour away from Cape Town - the apple farming district of Elgin is gearing up for an exiting month of spring celebrations with their first Apple Blossom Festival.

Aside from the beauty of the green landscape covered in white seas of apple blossom, the area is warming up to summer with long lazy days of picnicking, wine-tasting, live music, honey infused menus, fynbos walks, child-friendly experiences, blossom trail runs and more. Largely, and lovingly, owner-managed, Elgin’s farms, restaurants and accommodation establishments will open their doors to welcome visitors to share in the fun and prettiness of October in the Valley.

Perfectly timed for the school holidays, a visit to the Apple Blossom Festival can be a day trip or an extended stay. Check in with #blossomwatch and #Elginblossoms to track the best places to spot the blooms then drive the farm roads to see it in all its splendor. Stop in at all the Festival venues to experience the Elgin magic and snap some springtime memories along the way.

Participating venues have pulled out all the stops to create a gentle, rustic, rural experience for visitors. The idea is to take it slow and enjoy!

Here are some activities to get into in Elgin;

A beautiful day out and accommodation deal

Galileo Farm will be putting on some live music from noon till 3pm on 28 October at their gorgeous rustic farm venue The Shed. The Rivertones Reggae band will be setting the mood for this family-friendly to which you can bring your own picnic or buy from the food vendors who will be selling there. Be sure to bring your own alchoholic beverages (ice and ice buckets provided) as only cooldrinks will be on sale. Entry R150 per head, no charge for children under 8. Booking essential. Why not make Galileo your holiday destination too – their three nights for the price of two deal (October only) is too good to ignore.

Visit Terra Madre and harvest your own vegetables, then stay for a lunch or a generous picnic filled with gourmet goodies to enjoy right next to the orchards. Friday and Saturday only. Buy your Bee Box of bee-friendly plant seeds right here! Booking is essential.

Pair handmade chocolate with premium Elgin wine at Paul Wallace Wines. Book ahead to picnic alongside the picture-perfect dam. Picnics can be ordered from Terra Madre, or bring your own. A R30 fee for use of the picnic spot as well as R30 for fishing (catch and release only) will be donated to The Bee Effect. Grab this opportunity to book their 20% off Sunday to Thursday rates for accommodation, only in October.

Elgin’s gourmet farm-to-fork restaurant The Pool Room, is celebrating all things honey, with honey-infused desserts carrying a R5 donation to the Bee Effect. Visit their deli for all sorts of honey delights (R10 per item will be donated to the Bee Effect) and buy Bee Boxes filled with bee-friendly plant seeds. Booking essential, especially on weekends.

Almenkerk Wine Estate is hosting an art exhibition called Buzzted that features artworks relating to bees. Walk this indoor-outdoor pop-up exhibition and taste wine in their breathtaking contemporary tasting room. Pre-order a picnic from Terra Madre (but please wine from Almenkerk only) or bring your own (they provide crockery and cutlery) and enjoy the gardens and view for R30 (donated to the bees). Kids play area too!

The Hickory Shack is having a Pimp Your Beard stand. Dress up your own beard or select a fake one and pimp it up with springtime decorations for a #Blossomwatch selfie-snap. Donate R30 to The Bee Effect, please! Your snap may win a platter for you and a group of friends. After your BBQ feasting, walk into the orchards and see the prettiness. The Smokehouse Blowout happens every Saturday night when 1kg of BBQ ribs is just R150.

Walk into the wilds with The Green Mountain Trail as an expert guide takes you on an 8km walk into the Groenland Conservancy to spot the signs of spring. The experience includes a snack pack, wine tasting, walking stick, all the necessary insurance and a fabulous (well-deserved) lunch. The cost is R685 per person with R30 going to The Bee Effect. Booking is essential, walks happen by appointment only and only in October. Why not book to stay over at the luxurious Wildekrans Country House too.

Africa’s first bike hotel Trail’s End will open the Festival on 1 October with a spectacular trail run through private orchards in blossom. Return to the hotel for some live music, food and a bar. On the 15 Oct you can also join in on the Apple Blossom race, a one-of-a-kind experience in the Valley (grab 15% off accommodation on 30 September and 14 Oct at Trail’s End). Keen for a longer stay? Get great 20% off deals on accommodation from Sunday-Thursday (October only). Family rooms available. Be sure to book your bikes (of all sizes) ahead of time!

South Hill is celebrating the blossoms with a cellar art exhibition, part of an ongoing series of art on barrels. Taste South Hill wines with a honey-infused pairing and taste your way through honey-inspired menu items this October. Children will make a bee-line for the Busy Bee activity corner where fun, knowledge-building activities will be taking place whilst their parents unwind in the restaurant. Make a booking today.

Head for the mind-blowing Lothian Wine Estate for informative guided honey hive walks (the Proteas will also be in bloom), order delicious tapas platters and tastings of the range of Lothian wines. Kids will be delighted with their activity corner complete with colouring-in and dress up packs. Visits and tapas must be booked in advance.

Visit Old Mac Daddy’s Barn Restaurant for spring-inspired delights (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and spectacular views and then book to linger on this fabulous farm and play with zorbs, stand-up paddles, archery and more. Their eclectic range of accommodation options in a beautiful part of the Valley will make it a real relax.

It’s all about the bees

The Apple Blossom Festival is partnering with The Bee Effect to raise awareness for the bees. The Bee Effect has created a Bee Bank to fund the cultivation of plants that bees need for a diverse diet of foods that help them resist disease. Apple Blossom Activities carry a bee tax which will be donated to The Bee Effect but also look out for Bee Food Packs which carry a donation to The Bee Effect. These packs contain Spring-planting seeds for plants ideal for bees.